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February 2012 contents

FEATURES

24 Clueless Jafa to backcountry Jedi
Wilderness staff writer Josh Gale attempts to master the outdoors skills needed to become a fully fledged Kiwi tramper

30 New routes or old classics
Do you risk heading somewhere new or stick to the tried and true classics for a guaranteed good trip?

34 Three tramping tops
Easy, non-technical climbs in Canterbury’s Hakatere Conservation Park

40 Running wild on the Kepler
There’s more to the Kepler Track Great Walk than meets the eye

NEW TRACKS

4 Places
Separation Point, Abel Tasman National Park

8 The big picture
Lost man’s buddy

16 See more
Where to go to find more rock bivs

18 Off the Beaten Track
A diversion from the Routeburn Track leads alpine passes and tarns in seldom-trod side valleys

70 Out There
Cook’s classroom

72 Hotshot
Evening cloud

THE MANUAL
Trips, skills, health, gear

WILD TRIPS
48 Twenty Five Mile Creek, Rees Station, Otago
50 Purple Hill, Craigieburn Station, Canterbury
52 Waiopehu Hut, Tararua Forest Park
53 Pouakai Circuit, Egmont National Park

54 Wild Range
Travers and St Arnaud Ranges, Nelson Lakes National Park

62 Wild Review
58 Backcountry stoves
60 Asolo Sasslong boot
60 Oboz Sawtooth hikers

61 Wild Skills
Summer foot care

61 Body and sole
3 exercises for a stronger back

62 Wild Cuisine
Gluten-free tramping food

64 Wild Food
Uses for speargrass

64 Wild read
Wilderness books

Wild Buyer’s Guide
65 Outdoor watches
66 Compasses
67 Digital navigation: GPS devices and mapping software

WAYPOINTS

6 Editorial

7 Pigeon Post
Your letters to Wilderness

10 Walkshorts
News and events

14 Five reasons to get outside this month

14 Wilderness Word
Enter our crossword competition to win great prizes

45 Subscribe to win
Subscribeor resubscribe in the month of February to go in the draw to win MapToaster digital mapping software worth $149

Cover: Taking in the views from Balmacaan Saddle on the way to the summit of Mt Harper in Hakatere Conservation Park. Photo: Dave Mitchell

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